Storm slams California

San Diego

High waves crash under the Ocean Beach Pier as a winter storm brings rain and high winds to San Diego, Calif., Dec. 12, 2014.

Credit: Mike Blake/Reuters

Camarillo Springs, Calif.

Men work to clear San Como Lane after heavy rain triggered a mudslide following a storm in the Camarillo Springs area of Ventura County, Calif., Dec. 12, 2014.

The U.S. Pacific coast's most ferocious storm in years moved south Friday, bringing hurricane force winds and heavy downpours to southern California one day after claiming two lives in the Northwest.

Credit: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Camarillo Springs, Calif.

A garage is filled with rocks and mud after debris flow smashed into homes in Camarillo Springs, Calif. as a powerful storm that has been lashing northern California moves southward, Dec. 12, 2014.

About two dozen homes were severely damage in a heavy pre-dawn downpour. Although water from the storm lowers the risk of wildfires and offers some short-term relief from the record drought conditions that are menacing the state, weather experts say it amounts to only a very small step toward ending the drought.

Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

Camarillo Springs, Calif.

TV news crews set up across from a damaged home after a mud slide overtook at least 18 homes during heavy rains in Camarillo Springs, Calif., Dec. 12, 2014.

A major storm pummeled California and the Pacific Northwest with heavy rain and high winds on Thursday, killing one man, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes, disrupting flights and prompting schools to close.

Credit: Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters

Camarillo Springs, Calif.

Rocks reach the roof of a home after a mudslide overtook at least 8 homes during heavy rains in Camarillo Springs, Calif., Dec. 12, 2014.

A major storm that pummeled northern California and the Pacific Northwest with heavy rain and high winds and killed two people moved south overnight, prompting evacuation orders in areas prone to floods and mud flows.

Credit: Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters

San Francisco

A manhole cover is blown out by water rushing under a street in San Francisco, Dec. 11, 2014. A powerful storm churned through Northern California Thursday, knocking out power to tens of thousands and delaying commuters while soaking the region with much-needed rain.

Credit: Robert Gower/AP

Wiindsor, Calif.

A vineyard is flooded along Highway 101 in Windsor, Calif. Dec. 11, 2014.

Credit: Eric Risberg/AP

Berkeley, Calif.

The roof of a car is visible as it sits underwater in a flooded section of Ashby Avenue in Berkeley, California, Dec. 11, 2014.

The San Francisco Bay Area is being hit with a severe storm that is bringing high winds and heavy rain that have toppled trees and caused local flooding.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Washaway Beach, Washington

A destroyed home lies on Washaway Beach, Washington, Dec.11, 2014 as a Pacific winter storm hits the western U.S.

The same storm lashed northern and central California with heavy rain and high winds, knocking out electricity to tens of thousands of homes, disrupting commercial flights and prompting school closures in the San Francisco Bay area.

Credit: David Ryder/Reuters

Hemet, Calif.

Tow truck driver Chris Lewis digs a vehicle out of the mud after a storm flooded neighborhoods in Hemet, Calif., Dec.4, 2014.

A major Pacific storm, that broke records across Southern California and delivered a small measure of relief to the drought-stricken state, brought more rain, but the danger of major mudslides in wildfire-scarred areas appeared to have passed, officials said.

Credit: Eugene Garcia/Reuters

San Francisco

Traffic moves through a flooded section of highway 101 in South San Francisco, Dec. 11, 2014.

The San Francisco Bay Area is being hit with a severe storm that is bringing high winds and heavy rain that have toppled trees and caused local flooding.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Larkspur

Department of Public Works crews clear a tree that came down across a road in Larkspur, Calif., Dec.11, 2014. The San Francisco Bay Area is being hit with a severe storm that is bringing high winds and heavy rain that have toppled trees and caused local flooding.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Healdsburg

Aidan Perez, left, 12, and Christopher Dow, right, 11, use a shopping cart to get around the flooded parking lot of a shopping center Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, in Healdsburg, Calif. A powerful storm churned through Northern California Thursday, knocking out power to tens of thousands and delaying commuters while soaking the region with much-needed rain.

Credit: Eric Risberg/AP

San Francisco

Steven Sherman, right, and Vicki Skugrud, center, taste wine by candlelight at William Cross Wine Merchants during a blackout caused by severe weather in San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 11, 2014.

Credit: Justin Sullivam

Sauasalito

Commuter ML Mann struggles in the wind and rain to make her way to catch a ferry to San Francisco from Sausalito, Calif. Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014.

Credit: Eric Risburg/AP

Carmel

People run from a powerful wave during high tide at Carmel River State Beach in Carmel, California, December 10, 2014.

Credit: Michael Fiala/Reuters

Healdsburg

People use kayaks and a canoe to make their way around a flooded parking lot at a shopping center Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, in Healdsburg, Calif.

Credit: Eric Risburg/AP

San Francisco

Mark Kunze of San Bruno stalls his car in the flooded intersection of Airport Blvd. and Grand Ave. in South San Francisco, on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014.

Several vehicles stalled in and around the intersection after driving through the deep water. A powerful storm churned through the San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday, knocking out power to tens of thousands and delaying commuters while bringing a soaking of much needed rain.

Credit: Alex Washburn/AP

Sacramento

Kathryn Olson rests on a sandbag before carrying it to her vehicle to be used at her home in the Sacramento suburb of North Highlands, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014.

Sandbags and sand were provided in flood- prone areas of Sacramento County for residents to use to protect their homes in anticipation of a powerful storm that is expected to hit Northern California Thursday.

Credit: Rich Pedroncelli/AP

San Francisco

A man lifts sandbags that are being given away for free at the San Francisco Department of Public Works corporation yard in San Francisco, Dec. 10, 2014.

Urban areas could see up to 6 inches of rain in less than 24 hours.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Larkspur

The Golden Gate Bridge is seen through a rain covered windshield in Larkspur, California.